The Anti-Machiavellian Moment (16th–18th centuries) and the Birth of Political Economy – CALL FOR PAPERS

While the origins of political economy are usually explored through mercantilist, liberal, or republican traditions, this conference proposes to investigate an alternative intellectual genealogy centred on anti-Machiavellian currents. The aim of the conference is indeed to explore a hypothesis and to assess the direct or indirect influence that anti-Machiavellian currents and anti-Machiavellianism may have had on the emergence of economics as a science of the government of wealth and people.

With this in mind, the presentations will seek to describe the economic analyses and concepts of authors who present themselves, or have been presented, as critics of Machiavelli. The contributions will examine the extent to which their analyses may have presented themselves, explicitly or implicitly, as an alternative to the methods of government promoted – or presumed to have been promoted – by Machiavelli, by emphasising new objectives of government: the growth of the body politic versus the preservation of the state, wealth versus power, economic power versus military power, trade versus diplomacy, economic interests versus political interests, unity through economic means versus political divisions, commercial alliances versus diplomatic alliances, the general interest versus particular interests, cooperation versus tactical alliances, universal peace against wars…

Contributions may also, though to a lesser extent, examine indirectly the economic analyses of Machiavelli or those of authors regarded as Machiavellian, by assessing the place and nature of economic thought in their writings. The conference will thus provide an opportunity to clarify the contours of anti-Machiavellianism and, by extension, Machiavellianism.

The conference will thus be a forum for reflection, seeking to explore whether there may have been an anti-Machiavellian phase in political economy in Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Dates and practical information:

– Deadline for submission of proposals: 15 October 2027. Proposals of approximately 500 words should be sent as a Word or PDF file to: boyer@unistra.fr. An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent to confirm the submission.
– Notification to authors of the scientific committee’s decision: 15 November 2027.
– Conference dates: 1 and 2 April 2027, Maison Interuniversitaire des Sciences de l’Homme – Alsace (MISHA), Strasbourg – France.

All on-site expenses will be covered (hotel accommodation and meals).
Some of the speakers’ travel costs may be funded, subject to sufficient funds being available. In terms of funding, priority will be given to researchers without funding from their institutions.

This conference is organised as part of the ITI MAKErS Chair ‘Wealth, Interests and Governments in Europe’ of the MAKErS Interdisciplinary Thematic Institute, within the University of Strasbourg’s ITI 2021–2028 programme, in partnership with the CNRS and INSERM. It receives support from IdEx Unistra (ANR-10-IDEX-0002) and the SFRI-STRAT’US project (ANR-20-SFRI-0012).